Board of Trustees: Appointments, Membership, and Terms

All powers vested in the Corporation, except as otherwise provided in this Chapter, shall be exercised by the Board of Trustees. The Board shall consist of seven members. At least four members shall be licensed to practice law in Guam.

(a)The Board members shall be appointed as follows:

(1)Two members by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Guam, one of whom has experience in public administration, finance, and/or budgeting, and one of whom has experience in the field of social work.

(2)Two members by the I Maga’hågan/Maga’låhen Guåhan, both of whom must be lawyers;

(3)Two members by the Speaker of I Liheslaturan Guåhan, one of whom must be a lawyer and one who is a member of the general public;

(4)One member by the President of the Guam Bar Association, who must be a lawyer.

(b)If any one of these entities fails to appoint, cannot appoint, or refuses to appoint a Board member within thirty days of the request, the Director shall appoint an acting Board member until such time as the vacancy is filled.

(c)The term for a Board member shall be four years. Board members shall hold office until their successors are appointed and shall continue to exercise such duties until a successor is appointed. Board members shall not serve more than two successive full terms. The initial terms of the members shall be staggered: two members shall be appointed for a term of four years each, two members shall be appointed for a term of three years each, two members shall be appointed for a term of two years each, and one member shall be appointed for a term of one year. Initial appointments shall be for the following terms:

(1)The members appointed by the Chief Justice shall serve an initial term of four years.

(2)The lawyer members appointed by I Maga’håga/Maga’låhi shall serve an initial term of two years.

(3)The lawyer member appointed by the Speaker of I Liheslaturan Guåhan shall serve an initial term of three years.

(4)The non-lawyer member appointed by the Speaker of I Liheslaturan Guåhan shall serve an initial term of three years.

(5)The member appointed by the President of the Guam Bar Association, shall serve an initial term of one year. CH. 11 GUAM PUBLIC DEFENDER SERVICE CORPORATION ACT

(d)A vacancy in the Board membership shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

(e)The Board shall elect a chairperson and vice chairperson from its membership to serve a twoyear term. A member shall not serve as chairperson and vice chairperson of the Board for more than two successive full terms.